Introduction: Sustainable economic integration in the Asia context

The present introductory chapter discusses what makes economic integration sustainable and what are the prerequisites for sustainable economic integration. A financial safety net is without any doubts an important prerequisite, as it would allow crisis-stricken European Union (EU) countries to rely on financial resources for recovery. Other prerequisites are the more even distribution of the gains arising from high growth rates, in particular of wages, and the introduction of clean energy and innovation. Other aspects analyzed include: the focus on food security and investment in land, the transfer of human resources and the impact of non-tariff barriers between the EU and Asian countries.